Webster Flashcards
(9 cards)
What’s Webster’s critique towards the mainstream information society approaches?
the notion of “Information society” is problematic as it carries suppositions on what is changing in society. Such perspectives see the present as a mere continuation of the past, and that information has taken significance importance in modern era.
What’s Webster’s thoughts about social impact theories? and what is his alternative?
Social impact theories are over-simplistic and positively misleading. The alternative is social theory + empirical evidence, in order to analyse and assess current trends in the information domain
What are Webster’s two main theoretical emphases?
Emphasis on Newness (post-industrialism, post-modernism)
Emphasis on Continuity (neo-marxism, regulation theory, public sphere)
Elaborate on the 5 main definitions that Webster finds in information society theories.
Technology: ICT volume vs. info society status
Economy: Economic reliance on info
Occupation: Dominance of info over occupations
Spacial: Virtual networks as an extension of reality
Cultural: Info-driven, media-saturated contemporary culture
How does Webster elaborate a 6th definition of Information society?
The character of information transforms how we live, as knowledge/information is at the core of how we conduct ourselve
How does Webster frame the issue of Quality in the mainstream Information Society discourse?
If the characterisation of Info Society is that we now have exponentially more information, why does the increase of quantity of information indicate a radically new type of society?
What’s Webster view on the role of Ideas in the Information Society discourse?
Info Society thinkers disregard the role of ideas, and falsely claim that information in itself is fundamentally changing society
What’s Webster viewpoint towards the meaning of information, as well as in context of “being informed’?
Quantification of information reduces the concept of information from its meaning.
An informed individual, as in a person who actually possesses information, is a far greater criteria than having access to mass amount of information
How does Webster evaluate theoretical knowledge in the information society theories?
Info society does not prioritise theoretical knowledge, but describes it as a feature of contemporary society.
